Funding of TV licences for over 75’s (FOI)

​Request

On the 22 December 2016, Jersey's Government released this statement outlining final funding provision by the BBC to the States of Jersey:

BBC provision arrangements finalised

In it, it states the agreement includes:

- Treat all Crown Dependencies equitably

- Continue to provide Jersey with radio, television and other services (such as coverage of States sittings) to the same extent that it currently does

- Contribute phased funding for Jersey’s means-tested TV licence concession for people over the age of 75 (providing one third of the cost in 2018 / 2019 and

- Two thirds of the cost in 2019 / 2020) – this will save the States approx. £90,000 and £180,000 over the two years respectively

- Contribute the full cost in 2020 / 2021 of Jersey’s means-tested TV licence concession for people over the age of 75.

A

i) How much in total is the cost of the TV licence concession for over 75's in Jersey in 2018 / 2019?

ii) How much is the cost of one third of the TV licence concession for over 75's in Jersey in 2018 / 2019?

iii) Has the BBC funded one third of the TV Licence cost for 2018 / 2019?

iv) If the answer to (iii) is no, please can you tell me how much the BBC funded for the TV licence concession for over 75's in Jersey in 2018 / 2019 and also outline this in percentage terms?

v) If the answer to (iii) is no, please can you tell me who funded the TV licence concession for over 75's in Jersey in 2018 / 2019 and also outline this in percentage terms?

B

i) How much in total is the cost of the TV licence concession for over 75's in Jersey in 2019 / 2020?

ii) How much is the cost of two thirds of the TV licence concession for over 75's in Jersey in 2019 / 2020?

iii) Has the BBC funded two thirds of the TV Licence cost for 2019 / 2020?

iv) If the answer to (iii) is no, please can you tell me how much the BBC funded for the TV licence concession for over 75's in Jersey in 2019 / 2020 and also outline this in percentage terms?

v) If the answer to (iii) is no, please can you tell me who funded the TV licence concession for over 75's in Jersey in 2019 / 2020 and also outline this in percentage terms?

C

i) How much in total is the cost of the TV licence concession for over 75's in Jersey in 2020 / 2021?

ii) Has (or will) the BBC funded the full cost of the TV Licence concession for 2020 / 2021?

iii) If the answer to (ii) is no, please can you tell me how much the BBC funded for the TV licence concession for over 75's in Jersey in 2020 / 2021 and also outline this in percentage terms?

iv) If the answer to (ii) is no, please can you tell me who will fund the TV licence concession for over 75's in Jersey in 2020 / 2021 and also outline this in percentage terms?

D

If an agreement hasn't been made for 2020 / 2021 can you please outline the reasoning behind this.

E

How much money has the States of Jersey / Jersey's Government saved due to this agreement with the BBC since 2016?

Response

A

1) Jersey does not offer a TV licence concession. The Island has a tax funded, means tested, over 75’s benefit scheme in place.

The total cost of this benefit scheme for 2018 / 2019 was £270,298.00

ii) One third of £270,298 is £89,198.34.

iii) The BBC paid £87,000, this equates to 32% of the overall cost of the benefit.

iv) The BBC paid £87,000, this equates to 32% of the overall cost of the benefit.

v) The remaining amount was funded by Jersey’s tax funded, means tested, over 75’s benefit scheme.

B

i) Jersey does not offer a TV licence concession. The Island has a tax funded, means tested, over 75’s benefit scheme in place.

It is not possible to determine the exact cost of the benefit until the end of 2020. However, between 2014 to 2018 the annual cost has always been between £250,000 to £300,000.

ii) Based on the 2014 to 2018 figures (above) two thirds of the benefit will be approximately - £167,500 to £200,000

iii) The BBC have previously committed to paying £180,000. This money has not yet been received, but the BBC have indicated it will be received during 2020.

iv) Not applicable.

v) Not applicable.

C

i) Jersey does not offer a TV licence concession. The Island has a tax funded, means tested, over 75’s benefit scheme in place.

It is not possible to calculate this cost until the BBC have announced the revised cost of the TV licence in April and until the benefit has been paid out for this period.

ii) The BBC has committed to funding the full cost of the benefit for this year.

iii) Not applicable

iv) Not applicable

D

The BBC has committed to funding the full cost of the benefit for this year.

E

To date £87,000 has been received from the BBC. The total cost saving by the end of 2020 is expected to be £267,000, rising to approximately £567,000 in 2021.